Micah 6

Micah 6New International Version (NIV)

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.For the Lord has a case against his people;he is lodging a charge against Israel.

3 “My people, what have I done to you?How have I burdened you? Answer me.4 I brought you up out of Egyptand redeemed you from the land of slavery.I sent Moses to lead you,also Aaron and Miriam.5 My people, rememberwhat Balak king of Moab plottedand what Balaam son of Beor answered.Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

6 With what shall I come before the Lordand bow down before the exalted God?Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,with calves a year old?7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercyand to walk humbly[a] with your God.

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

9 Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—and to fear your name is wisdom—“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.[b]10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,and the short ephah,[c] which is accursed?11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,with a bag of false weights?12 Your rich people are violent;your inhabitants are liarsand their tongues speak deceitfully.13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy you,to ruin[d] you because of your sins.14 You will eat but not be satisfied;your stomach will still be empty.[e]You will store up but save nothing,because what you save[f] I will give to the sword.15 You will plant but not harvest;you will press olives but not use the oil,you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.16 You have observed the statutes of Omriand all the practices of Ahab’s house;you have followed their traditions.Therefore I will give you over to ruinand your people to derision;you will bear the scorn of the nations.[g]”

Micah 6King James Version (KJV)

6 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

2 Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord.

6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

9 The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

Micah 6New King James Version (NKJV)

God Pleads with Israel

6 Hear now what the Lord says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,And let the hills hear your voice.2 Hear, O you mountains, the Lord’s complaint,And you strong foundations of the earth;For the Lord has a complaint against His people,And He will [a]contend with Israel.

3 “O My people, what have I done to you?And how have I wearied you?Testify against Me.4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,I redeemed you from the house of bondage;And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.5 O My people, remember nowWhat Balak king of Moab counseled,And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,From [b]Acacia Grove to Gilgal,That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

6 With what shall I come before the Lord,And bow myself before the High God?Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,With calves a year old?7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,Ten thousand rivers of oil?Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,[c]The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;And what does the Lord require of youBut to do justly,To love [d]mercy,And to walk humbly with your God?

Punishment of Israel’s Injustice

9 The Lord’s voice cries to the city—Wisdom shall see Your name:

“Hear the rod!Who has appointed it?10 Are there yet the treasures of wickednessIn the house of the wicked,And the short measure that is an abomination?11 Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales,And with the bag of deceitful weights?12 For her rich men are full of violence,Her inhabitants have spoken lies,And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 “Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you,By making you desolate because of your sins.14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied;[e]Hunger shall be in your midst.You may carry some away,[f] but shall not save them;And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.

15 “You shall sow, but not reap;You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;And make sweet wine, but not drink wine.16 For the statutes of Omri are kept;All the works of Ahab’s house are done;And you walk in their counsels,That I may make you a [g]desolation,And your inhabitants a hissing.Therefore you shall bear the reproach of [h]My people.”

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